Former world number two Paula Badosa has withdrawn from this week’s Wuhan Open, organizers said on Tuesday, following a racist backlash over an internet photo. The Spaniard withdrew from the WTA 1000 competition, claiming a stomach sickness, hours before her opening round match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
Earlier, media publications like Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper claimed that Badosa had uploaded an Instagram photo in which she attempted to simulate a Chinese face by putting chopsticks on the corners of her eyes. The snapshot was taken last week in a restaurant in Beijing, where she reached the China Open semi-finals, and was shared online by her coach, Pol Toledo.
It caused a social media controversy and has subsequently been removed. On Monday, the world number 15 apologized for her actions in a message on social networking site X. “Hi, folks! Sorry, I had no idea this was upsetting to racists. “I made a mistake,” she wrote. “I accept full responsibility. These blunders will help me learn for the next time. I hope you understand.Badosa was replaced in the draw by fortunate loser Lucia Bronzetti of Italy, who will now face Tomljanović.